3D Printing Technology

3D printing is an emergent technology used mainly for rapid prototyping across a wide section of industries. How are 3D objects printed? There are several different printing processes, including breaking down a 3D digital file into cross sections, and depositing material layer by layer to build up a real, 3D object. The term 3D printing emerged when MIT patented several 3-dimensional printing techniques. 3D printing technology is most-often used in the automotive, medical, consumer electronics, and manufacturing industries.

Paul Doe, the chief engineer at Motorsport Technology, says 3D printing is transforming the way his company does business. Their previous experience with 3D printing was in making prototypes, and the main reason they bought a 3D printer was to validate new functional designs. After installation, their use of the machine changed a lot, however, to actually making production parts on demand for customers. They discovered that the resultant products were strong enough to use as parts for cars in the actual production line.

The company experimented further with their new 3D printer, and soon was able to print specialist parts at a fraction of the normal cost. This allowed them to avoid high fixed production costs, and to carry fewer stock parts on hand. In just this one automotive application, for example, Motorsport Technology saved a total of $80,000 using 3D printing. Not only can the company now print out individual parts, but it can print its own tools as well. Modification of pieces of tooling, which previously would have cost around $10,000, could now be printed for as little as $10. 3D printers are an affordable investment for a typical company, now costing around $20,000 each. Companies have recouped this cost in as little as a few months in some cases.

3D prototyping and manufacturing

3D prototyping a final product offers great savings in design costs. 3D prototypes can be used to accelerate product testing, where multiple design variations can be tested rapidly. This is crucial in short-run manufacturing, for example. Alterations can be made, and reprinted at a moment’s notice, even in the most intricate design specifications.

Engineering Classes Online

Density and strength, for instance, usually go hand in hand. Strong materials like metals and alloys tend to be heavy, while foams and other lightweight composites are normally much weaker. Changing the molecular structure can lead to materials that are both strong and light at the same time by being airy rather than solid, and by deriving their strength from complex shapes. This is the same principle that gives the Eiffel Tower structural strength through the arrangement of its metal struts.

Professor Abu Al-Rub and his engineering design team built a computer model that can generate thousands of geometric arrangements for a given material. Each design gives rise to a different set of thermal, electrical and mechanical properties solely through implementing a different geometry. More importantly, the model can be directed to find the arrangement that maximizes certain properties to fit a desired application.

The structures are very complex, so they couldn't be produced through conventional manufacturing methods. Luckily, however, recent 3D printing advances have made it possible to 3D print these structures even though their features might be only a few nanometers in size. According to their research, the combined ability to design custom properties into a material and then manufacture it through 3D printing could disrupt the future of material design.

Building Technology aims at providing a fundamental understanding of the physics related to building design and placement, in order to offer the occupants physical, functional, and psychological benefits.

Urban Planning, with an emphasis on the evolving structure of cities, and the way that cities, suburbs, and metropolitan areas can be re-designed and systematically developed.

Structural Design for buildings and bridges, from Gothic cathedrals to long-span suspension bridges.

Engineering & Computer Jobs

The Fundamentals of Engineering exam should be taken immediately after earning a bachelors degree from an ABET-accredited program. Engineers who pass this exam are called engineers in training (EIT), or engineer interns. After meeting work experience requirements, engineer interns can attempt a second certifying exam, called the Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam. Thereafter, acquisition of a professional engineering license enables management of junior engineers, the ability to sign off on engineering projects, and provide services directly to the public. Wages vary by employer and location. Aside from salary, most engineering jobs include excellent benefits, as well as retirement plans.

On our pages, you can find career training and listings of engineering jobs, updated hourly. This website is not affiliated with any educational institution, and all trademarks are exclusive property of the respective owners. College Inspector is the work of a group of Thai students in Bangkok, using info from the US Department of Education, Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). If any stats are incorrect, please contact us with the right data.